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Other Sides of Security Issues in Afghanistan, Zurich, Nov. 4-5

The Other Sides of Afghanistan: A Regional Perspective on Security Issues in Afghanistan (Zurich 4-5th November 2011)

The Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich invites the submission of paper abstracts for a one and half day authors’ workshop entitled ‘The Other Sides of Afghanistan: a regional perspective on security issues in Afghanistan’ (Zurich, 4-5th November 2011).

Context

Since 9/11, Afghanistan has become a priority in Western security thinking. In a regional context, Afghanistan has long been and continues to be a major security concern both for its bordering states (China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) and regional powers and states in close proximity (Russia, India, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan). Although these states view stability in Afghanistan as important for their own security, they have taken a back seat following the onset of the US-led operation in Afghanistan in 2001 and the numerous Western state-building programs of the last decade. However, with the prospect of a Western withdrawal from military operations in Afghanistan over the course of the next few years, the role and influence of regional powers and neighbouring states in Afghanistan will return to the top of the agenda.

This trend highlights a lack of analysis of the regional perspective on Afghanistan. In response to the launch of the US-led operation, a lot of literature has been produced on security in Afghanistan.

However, it has largely ignored the role and impact of neighbouring and regional states, with the exception of Pakistan, focusing instead on Western military operations and the state-building process. Taking this into account, this workshop seeks to fill this gap by examining these neighbouring and regional states’ perspective on security issues in Afghanistan, which will be integral for regional security in Eurasia during the next decade.

Conference aims

The workshop will analyse the perceptions and responses of neighbouring and regional states to the current security situation in Afghanistan, as well as their views on the implications of the proposed Western withdrawal. In addition, it will consider the prospects for and shape of a common regional approach to managing the security and state-building process in Afghanistan.

N.B. Please consult the extended call for papers for more information on the aims and approach of the workshop, as well as a detailed list of research questions. This can be found at: http://www.css.ethz.ch/silva_ethz/ETH/gess/fsk/fsk/box_feeder/Call-for -Papers-Other-side-of-Afghanistan.pdf

Submissions

Abstracts of no more than 400 words for papers analysing individual states or thematic issues (see extended CfP) should be sent to the workshop organizers, Aglaya Snetkov (snetkov@sipo.gess.ethz.ch) and Stephen Aris (aris@sipo.gess.ethz.ch) by 14 May 2011.

Selected papers will be chosen as chapters for edited volume to be published following the workshop.

For successful applicants, travel costs (reasonable), accommodation and catering will be supported by CSS, ETH Zurich.